Last year the Rays entered camp with a tense atmosphere due to the terribly kept secret that Corey Dickerson and Jake Odorizzi were soon to be traded, and those feelings were compounded once the players left and starters faced injury.
Still, in spite of the rough seas to start 2018, the Rays rose up to win 90 games. Now, they seem to be wearing those wins as a badge of honor, rolling into spring training with a championship mentality, even though half the squad looks nothing like last year’s team in camp.
Yes, the Rays were good in 2018, but have they earned this 2019 bravado?